“Considering we were on top in the game we had to come out and bowl well and execute our plans but we had to do it with good intent and our goal was to win the Test match today,” Clarke said after the win.

And now Prassad looks in trouble. He's taken some pain relief and looks like he'll go on, but the boy is in trouble.

Johnson smoked one into Prassad's glove and the physio came out.

1.26 AEDT - SL 4-68SANGAKKARA RETIRES HURT

After clearly favouring his injured knuckle, Sangakkara decides enough is enough and walks from the field.

The Sri Lanka star took his glove off and showed off some serious swelling in his left index finger. Ouch. A sad and sorry day for the tourists now escalates.

The Aussies are now just five wickets from victory, with Dhammika Prassad walking to the crease on a pair.

And there must be doubts on Sanga fronting up for the Sydney Test. He finished on 27 before heading to hospital for X-rays.1.23 AEDT - SL 4-61

A lucky break for Sri Lanka immediately after the lunch break, with Shane Watson dropping Angelo Mathews in the gully.

Jackson Bird was far from impressed, with him and Johnson resuming the attack for Australia in the second session.

This partnership looms as the key - if Australia can snap it the home side will be into Sri Lanka's second-string batsmen and well on the way to finishing the match.GALLERY: Aussies all out, then all smiles

12.30 AEDT - LUNCH

What a session for the Aussies! They picked up four wickets, pushed their mega lead past 300 runs and are seemingly within a session of burying Sri Lanka and pocketing the series.

It started with the Mitch Johnson hour of power. The paceman rocketed to 92 not-out before running out of partners with the bat, before joining David Warner to run out Dimuth Karunaratne.

Johnson then removed the dangerous Dilshan for a duck, the very next ball, while debutant Jackson Bird continued the horror run for the tourists' captain Mahele Jayawardene, dismissing him for a duck.

Bird has two, the Lankans have six pegs left and we're headed for a cricket-free weekend. Thank you for coming!

But now the questions begin to stew... how does Mitchell Starc get back into this side for the Sydney Test?

Will it be for injured all-rounder Shane Watson, or does Jackson Bird face the axe despite a fine debut? Surely Johnson couldn't be rested?

Does Australia persist with struggling spinner Nathan Lyon?Argh... time for lunch!Sri Lanka 4-43 and trailing by 261 runs

Finally, some calm. Sri Lanka has lasted 2.3 overs without a wicket, give them a round of applause.

About six overs left until the lunch break and the Aussies must fancy their chances of tying away a series win in the next session.

They lead by 283 runs... but forget that number, it's all about the last six wickets. And who gets them could be telling given Mitchell Starc is due to return in Sydney.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - DECEMBER 28: Australian players celebrate the run out of Dimuth Karunaratne of Sri Lanka during day three of the Second Test match between Australia and Sri Lanka at Melbourne Cricket Ground on December 28, 2012 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)Source: HWT Image Library

11.54 AEDT - SL 4-13Wicket!

This. Is. Embarrassing. If there was a mercy rule it would well and truly be actioned by now.

This time it's Thilan Samaraweera who goes. He made one run before Jackson Bird trapped him plumb lbw. The Lankan reviewed it, but Eagle Eye showed it would have battered middle and leg stump.

Well, at least when he returns to the dressing room, he can brag about not having a duck next to his name like two of his teammates.

Bird now has two, Johnson one and a run-out this innings. Forget seeing out the day, can Sri Lanka make it to lunch?!

Ohh dear! The worst possible start for Sri Lanka with Dimuth Karunaratne run out for one run in the first over. Who rocked the stumps? You guessed it! Mitch Johnson... should we hand him man-of-the-match honours now?

A ripping throw from David Warner to set up the dismissal, with Dilshan and Sangakarra at the crease.

@samlandsberger Hardly a chance, Sangakarra to hang around and see all around him slowly. MOTM at this rate, is Mitch Johnson's to lose.

And Bird is gone! And that leaves Mitch Johnson unbeaten eight runs shy of a second Test century. The debutant just couldn't keep a full one out, with the ball cannoning into his stumps.

Shaminda Eranga did the damage, collecting his fourth wicket for the innings. Australia leads by 304 runs and now it'll be the Lankans to start their second innings.

Australia finished 10-460 off 134.4 overs with Michael Clarke scoring the only century of the match.

Bird was dismissed for naught, lasting 11 balls. Time to get the leather in his hand.

11.10 AEDT

Crack! Johnson is on his way to three figures... if he can keep Jackson Bird at the other end. The tailender is starting to take to Angelo Mathews, thumping a boundary past mid-off to take the lead past 300.

The Aussies hold a 301-run advantage, while Johnson has raced to 89 this morning.

The spinner goes for one run in a disappointing start - it was his job to see Johnson through for a ton. Matthews picks up the wicket, bringing Jackson Bird to the crease for his first bat in Test cricket.

10.45am AEDT

And we're away! Angelo Matthews and Dhammika Prasad have the ball. Not a bad crowd in early given the cool weather and state of the match.

Lyon and Johnson off to a defensive start but the lead has swelled to 289 runs. Will we see the Lankans at the crease by lunch?

Johnson's highest Test score is 123 not-out - can he better that today?

10.30am AEDT

Cricket Australia has confirmed the first ball is due at 10.45 AEDT. The covers are off, the drizzle has stopped and we're ready to resume the Boxing Day Test at the MCG.

10.20am AEDT

Ten minutes away from scheduled start of play now - but light rain is causing issues at the G.

THE Aussies went from obliterating Sri Lanka with a firestorm of wickets on day one to a slow grind-like kill in day two, seemingly batting the tourists out of the Boxing Day Test.

And while Michael Clarke scored an inspirational ton a day after passing an 11th-hour fitness test on his hamstring, Mitchell Johnson ignited Australia last night, hammering an unbeaten 73 a day after snaring four crunch wickets.

Johnson will be joined at the crease by Nathan Lyon today, with the Aussies 8-440 at stumps, and leading by284 runs.

But the dominance has seemingly come at a cost, with all-rounder Shane Watson suffering a calf train and expected to miss the third Test in Sydney next week.

Will the Aussies declare? When will the Test be over? And can Johnson make a ton? The first ball is due at 10.30 AEDT.

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